ZAGREB, Oct 16 (Hina) - Croatian President's envoy at the government Office for cooperation with UNTAES and head of the Osijek centre for mine clearing, Major General Slavko Baric, on Wednesday said that mines were no longer the main
obstacle in the return of displaced persons to the Croatian Danubian area. "All communications from the liberated areas of Croatia towards the Danubian area have been cleared of mines," Baric said.
ZAGREB, Oct 16 (Hina) - Croatian President's envoy at the
government Office for cooperation with UNTAES and head of the
Osijek centre for mine clearing, Major General Slavko Baric, on
Wednesday said that mines were no longer the main obstacle in the
return of displaced persons to the Croatian Danubian area.
"All communications from the liberated areas of Croatia
towards the Danubian area have been cleared of mines," Baric said.
#L#
He informed reporters that about one thousand houses that had
been cleared of mines would be ready for reconstruction by next
week.
"UNTAES gave us precise information about mine fields. This
year we will inspect about two percent of the area and if we
continue in this pace, we will finish in about ten years," Baric
stressed.
He said that UNTAES advocated that as many Serbs as possible
take part in the mine clearing.
"There is a problem because the equipment and personnel
offered by the Serbs are not at a satisfactory technical level. We
can achieve complete safety only if the Croatian Danubian area is
cleared of mines by the Croatian side," Baric said.
(hina) lm
161856 MET oct 96